Chapter 100

After returning home, I was so exhausted that I wanted to sleep, but we had to follow the investigation team tomorrow night. So, I had to stay awake all night.

Why did I go shopping after arriving in town?

I was so tired, yet I got carried away and bought all sorts of things.

I think I wasted money. The excitement of being in a tourist spot must have dulled my judgment.

"Deputy Captain Berry, I'm sleepy."

"Just bear with it."

"Ugh..."

I glanced at Amelia.

"Quuuu!!"

"Don't fall asleep!" she said sternly.

Amelia, who would usually be sleeping at this time, was impressive. Her resolve was different.

I washed my face with cold water, moved my body, and counted money, but nothing helped.

I slapped my cheeks hard, but it had no effect.

When you're sleepy, nothing works. However, if I fell asleep here, it would interfere with the mission.

So, I asked Deputy Captain Berry to pinch my cheeks hard.

"Are you going to pinch the cheeks of Medic Lislis?"

"Yes, please!"

I closed my eyes and turned my face toward Deputy Captain Berry.

After waiting for a while, my cheeks were pinched, but—

"...?"

The pinch was light, and the force never increased.

When I opened my eyes, I met Deputy Captain Berry's puzzled gaze.

"Deputy Captain Berry?"

"S-Sorry. Pinching Medic Lislis's cheeks hard... I can't do it."

Her hand dropped.

"Deputy Captain Berry, you're my only hope."

"But it's too pitiful... I can't do such a cruel thing..."

"Wh-What!"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

It was Zara. I wondered what she needed.

"Sorry to bother you so late at night."

"No problem."

I immediately understood why. She was holding Album in her arms, who was snoring peacefully.

"Maybe it's because the room is dark, but he fell asleep."

"Ah, I see."

"I felt bad about taking him to Gar's room."

"You're right. I understand. Thank you. We'll take care of Album here."

"Sorry."

"No, no."

I said goodnight to Zara and parted ways.

How nice, to be able to sleep now.

But first, I had to wake Album up.

"Alumb, wake up!"

"Uuun, Alumb can't eat anymore~"

"..."

He must be having a very happy dream. How enviable.

But I couldn't be lenient.

"Alumb, if you sleep at night, you'll be in trouble during tomorrow's investigation!"

"Muhuun~"

He showed no signs of waking up.

I grabbed his head and feet and tried to stretch his body, but it didn't work.

Even when Amelia poked him with her beak, he said, "It feels good~" and it had no effect.

"Alumb, your tummy is full~"

"..."

Thinking it was a waste of time, I threw Alumb back on the bed.

I lay down next to him, clenching my teeth.

"Ugh, I'm so sleepy, I want to sleep~!!"

"Medic Lislis..."

Deputy Captain Berry looked at me with pity.

"Medic Lislis, do you have any food that can help you stay awake?"

"Huh!?"

There is food to wake you up!

I rummaged through my bag and took out the leftover rations from lunch. It was chocolate.

"Chocolate contains substances that have an exciting effect, which helps you stay awake."

I immediately bit into the chocolate.

"Yuck!!"

I involuntarily rolled over and landed on the futon. Alumb, who was sleeping on the same bed, jumped but showed no signs of waking up.

This ration chocolate was really bad. Why was it so powdery?

"What about mixing the chocolate with coffee?"

"Ah, that might work."

I remembered that coffee also contains substances with an exciting effect.

However, I didn't have any coffee. As I was feeling down, Deputy Captain Berry handed me a cloth bag.

"What's this?"

"Coffee I bought earlier. Let's have it together."

"Wow, thank you!"

I gratefully accepted Deputy Captain Berry's coffee.

When I opened the bag, a fragrant aroma wafted out!

"It smells good."

"I couldn't resist the smell and bought it."

My grandmother used to drink coffee.

In the Forest Elf village, it was a luxury item, so they could only buy it four times a year.

"Do you know how to make coffee without any equipment?"

"Yes, leave it to me!"

I used to help my grandmother, so I knew how to make it.

I took out a mortar to grind the coffee beans.

I also needed to boil water and sterilize the cloth and string for extraction.

I boiled water over the fireplace.

The coffee beans were roasted.

They were more thoroughly roasted than the ones we bought in the village, and the aroma was stronger.

I put the coffee beans in the mortar and ground them. It took some effort, so Deputy Captain Berry took over halfway through.

I sterilized the cloth.

While boiling the cloth, the good smell of coffee beans filled the room.

"Ah, something smells good~"

Finally, Alumb seemed to wake up.

He immediately sat up and peered curiously at Deputy Captain Berry grinding the coffee beans.

"Pancake girl, what's this? Is it delicious? Hey, why is Pancake girl in your room!?"

"Zara brought him here."

"Oh, I see."

When asked if he could help, I asked him to cut the chocolate.

I was worried if he could do it, but he skillfully used the knife to finely chop the chocolate. It seemed I could trust him.

I squeezed the sterilized cloth with a stick.

After cooling it for a while, I wrapped the beans ground by Deputy Captain Berry and the chocolate chopped by Alumb, tied the ends, and put it in the pot.

Without any equipment, we could only make boiled coffee.

It wouldn't be very tasty, but there was no other choice.

I boiled the water once and put the bag with the coffee beans and chocolate into it.

I watched the pot carefully, making sure it didn't boil over.

It was done in about a minute.

I made coffee for Deputy Captain Berry, myself, and Alumb.

A deep, fragrant aroma wafted from the cups. After enjoying the smell, I blew on the coffee before drinking it.

The chocolate made it smooth and rich.

The right balance of bitterness and sweetness was perfect.

"It's good."

"Yes, it's delicious."

"This is amazing!!"

It seemed this was Alumb's first time drinking coffee.

He said it was delicious with sparkling eyes. I'm glad he liked it.

If I could get Slara to drink coffee, she could have it anytime.

Unfortunately, it was Gar's room.

"By the way, we should have invited Gar."

"Yes, we should. Let's invite him tomorrow."

"Okay!"

Thanks to the chocolate coffee, I was no longer sleepy.

The night was still long.

I talked with Deputy Captain Berry, groomed Amelia's feathers, and played with Alumb to pass the time.

◇◇◇

In the morning—Captain, Urgas, Zara, and Liette went to fight the giant scorpion.

Urgas had the look of a calf being led to market.

Well, good luck.

Liette, on the other hand, seemed well-prepared for the mission.

"Liette, don't overdo it."

"Thank you."

She looked happy to receive encouragement from Amelia.

"Zara, see you later."

"Yes, see you."

The Captain—our eyes met, but never mind. It would be presumptuous for a low-ranking soldier to speak to him.

We waved goodbye.

I wished them a safe return.

This was the 100th episode. Thank you for reading so far. I hope you will continue to follow the relaxed activities of the Second Squad, centered around Mel.

And I have an announcement. The book adaptation of "Enoch's Second Squad Expedition Meals" has been decided.

It will be published by Micro Magazine's GC Novels in the summer.

I will provide more details as the release date approaches. Thank you for your continued support. m(__)m